Hope United Methodist Church

WELCOME

If you are female and looking at this site, then you are now one of the Women of Hope! We want you to become part of the family of sisters and share in the fellowship.

WOMEN OF HOPE is a spirited ministry to women of all age groups who meet at Hope Church and throughout our community. If you are a female and looking at this site, then we invite you to join us and become part of the family of Sister’s in Christ. Come share your talents, testimony, gifts and joy!

Our Mission:

“The Women of Hope seek to support and encourage women to grow and strengthen their walk with the Lord, through Bible study and building relationships with other women in support of Hope UMC’s overall mission.”

Our Annual Events:

Tea and Testimony

Held each February, this event provides a fellowship opportunity for Christian women by sharing a journey in fun and faith during a tea luncheon.

Day of Faith

Held in March, this event helps women find Bible-based solutions to issues that we deal with every day. It includes drama, praise music, breakfast and lunch.

Women of Hope Bake Sales

Held twice a year during the Journey to Easter and the Fall Festival/Arts and Crafts Fair. The money raised from the bake sales is donated to support our youth ministries to help support them in their walk with the Lord.

Bible Study / Small Groups

Held throughout the year, these are groups of 12 – 16 women who meet regularly to study the Bible and strengthen their relationship with God. We encourage all women to get connected with a small group.

Upcoming Events:

How you can be involved?

On Sundays stop by the Connection Center in the Narthex.
Call the church office Monday – Thursday 9:30 am – 3 pm at
727-372-4689 and asked to be put on our distribution list.
Check of the Women’s Ministries box on the Information Card insert in the bulletin
Watch the Weekly Word and bulletin for announcements on meetings and events.

Women of Hope, rejoice,
Come together with one voice.
Renew your faith, refresh your Spirit,
Rejoice in the Lord,
Women of Hope.

God has called us together
To lift each other up in prayer.
Sisters in Christ, one in heart and mind
We show each other we care.

We come as one to the Father
Seeking His forgiveness and love.
Trusting that He will set us free
And shower us with peace from above.

Judy Kennedy April 2001
Used with Permission

How often do you talk about another person who isn’t present in a negative way with the intent of hurting others opinion of them?

Often-daily

Frequently- weekly or biweekly

Seldom

Never

How often do you spread gossip/rumors about people or events?

Often-daily

Frequently- weekly or biweekly

Seldom

Never

How often do you say something you regret and feel you need to apologize?

a.Often-daily

Frequently- weekly or biweekly

Seldom

Never

How often do you complain about your life (ie your health, spouse, kids, finances or job)?

a.Often-daily

b. Frequently- weekly or biweekly

c. Seldom

d. Never

5. How often do you try to tell someone things they should do without being asked for advice? Or get in the middle of other people’s affairs or arguments?

a.Often-daily

b. Frequently- weekly or biweekly

c. Seldom

d. Never

6. How often do you change the truth or lie?

a.Often-daily

b. Frequently- weekly or biweekly

c. Seldom

d. Never

7. How often do you say things that are insincere/flattering just to make a better impression?

a.Often-daily

b. Frequently- weekly or biweekly

c. Seldom

d. Never

8. How often do you boast about yourself?

a.Often-daily

b. Frequently- weekly or biweekly

c. Seldom

d. Never

9. How much of your conversations do you dominate?

a.90-100%

b.70%-90%

c.50-70%

d.less than 50%

10. How often do you ask others questions- encourage them to talk?

a.less than 50%

b.50-70%

c.70%-90%

d.90-100%

11. How much of your speech is positive/uplifting words?

a.less than 50%

b.50-70%

c.70%-90%

d.90-100%

12. How often do you say negative /critical things about yourself?

a.Often-daily

b. Frequently- weekly or biweekly

c. Seldom

d. Never

13. How often do you tell someone what you want them to do repeatedly until they finally do it ?

a.Often-daily

b. Frequently- weekly or biweekly

c. Seldom

d. Never

14. How often do you argue, fight, bring up past mistakes and or jump to conclusions in your conversations with people?

a.Often-daily

b. Frequently- weekly or biweekly

c. Seldom

d. Never

15. How often do you think negative thoughts about a person/situation?

a.Often-daily

b. Frequently- weekly or biweekly

c. Seldom

d. Never

Speech Diagnosis: Each number above has a topic below that corresponds to it and a scripture. I encourage you to score your test and if you do have and a/b on an item to study the scriptures listed and you may want to pray about how God can help you to improve your speech in that area. See Speak Life scriptures handout for more scriptures on the above topics

Slander: Do not go about spreading slander among your people Leviticus 19:16

Gossip: A gossip betrays a confidence, but a trustworthy man keeps a secret Proverbs 11:13

Hasty speech: Let every man be swift to hear and slow to speak James 1:19

Complaining words: Do everything without complaining or arguing Phil 2:14

Meddling words: Some of you are living idle lives and wasting time meddling in other people’s business. I Thess 3:13

Lying words : The Lord hates a lying tongue Prov 12:22

Flattering words: The Lord shall cut off all flattering lips Ps 12:3

Prideful words: Let another praise you and not your own mouth Prov 27:2

Talking too much/failing to listen: When words are many sin is not absent, but he who holds his tongue is wise. Prov 10:19

Self-centered words: Each of you should not look to your own interest, but also the interest of others Phil 2:4

Critical words/sarcastic: Love is not rude 1 Cor 13: 4

Self-destructive words: I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me Phil 4:6

Nagging/manipulating/controlling words: Better to live in a desert than with a quarrelsome and nagging wife. Proverbs 21:19

Argumentative/quarrelsome : 2 Timothy 2:24 The servant of the Lord must not quarrel, but must be kind to everyone, be able to teach, and be patient with difficult people.

Critical thoughts: Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is good and acceptable and perfect will of God. Romans 12:3

UNDERLYING CAUSES- for our Speech Problem:

Now think of why you have the above issues? Circle or underline those that apply to you

Worry: anxiety, fear

Stress: over commitment, rushed pace of life, no time to yourself, financial stress/debt

Spiritual distance from God: filling our time with things not of God and not spending enough quality time with God praying/reading His Word, not trusting in Him, having faith in Him, not listening to God, impulsively getting ahead of God; ignoring sin in your life

Other reasons:

SPIRITUAL SPEECH THERAPY

Speech Evaluation

Complete the Spiritual Speech Evaluation handout. Identify the ways you use critical words. Evaluate your tone and body language because your words are only 10% of what you actually communicate. Analyze your heart! Whatever is in your heart will affect your tone of voice and your words. Evaluate the underlying reasons why you speak critically and identify the people to whom and places in which you speak negatively. Choose to change your words! Recognize how important it is to change your speech and how serious God is about your words and how you use them. There are hundreds of scriptures written on words. Take seriously how your tongue has the potential to produce good or evil.

Speech Therapy Materials/Resources

~31-Day Speak Life Challenge (see handout): Commit to journal critical/positive words for one month. You can use this as an ongoing assessment of any area(s) of your speech.

Read and memorize scriptures. The areas you identify on your Spiritual Speech Evaluation correlate with the Speak Life Scriptures handout. Memorizing specific scriptures will give you the tools you need to be reminded to use your words for God's good and glory.

~Books about the topic: These resources have wisdom, insight and helpful strategies.

Power of a Woman’s Words by Sharon Jaynes

30 Days to Taming Your Tongue- devotional and a study guide by Deborah Pegues

Conversation Peace by Betty Hassler and Mary Kassian

Keep it Shut by Karen Ehman

Stopping Words That Hurt by Dr. Michael Sedler

Resisting Gossip by Matthew Mitchell

Taming the Tongue by Alex Uwajeh

~Prayer books:

Prayers that Avail Much by Germaine Copeland and Power of a Praying Woman by Stormie O’Martian. You can use these prayers to get you started praying or to give you ideas of ways to pray for victory over your negative words.

Speech Therapy Treatment Plan

Set achievable short-term goals based on the speech evaluation. Try not to change too many things at once so that you won’t get discouraged or give up. Your goal can be a specific area – like critical words, gossip, lying etc. OR, it can be specific people, places or situations that trigger a habit of using critical words. Reassess your progress and choose new goals based on your Speech Evaluation.

Strategies for Success in Speech Therapy

~Pray. Pray for victory over your negative thoughts, feelings and words. Pray for critical/difficult people in your life. Often, we either retaliate with critical words to them or gossip about them. Instead, choose to tattletale to God when they irritate you. Pray for more peaceful conversations with them and ask God to help you find the words to say something positive to them.

~Forgive. Forgive others. An unforgiving heart leads to critical words. If someone has hurt your feelings, then tell them and resolve the conflict. Forgive and stop dwelling on it and/or talking about it to others about it. It only hurts you to hold a grudge and sets you up to have a critical heart and therefore, critical words. Ask for forgiveness. Daily assess the sin in your life. Sins such as anger, jealousy or judging others lead to critical words. Ask God to forgive you and give you strength to overcome sin. If you have spoken harsh words to someone in the past, go back and apologize. If you speak critical/harsh words in the future, quickly apologize. Forgive yourself for saying critical words. Don’t give up. Only Christ was perfect and only He had the perfect word at the perfect time. It takes time to overcome using negative words. If you fail, then pray for God to help you do better next time.

~Daily guard your words. Watch what you say and how you say it. Consciously choose to replace negative critical words with positive words. If it is something that you would close the door to tell someone, don’t say it. Say to yourself, “What would Jesus say?” Speak positive words with a positive tone of voice. Remember, it takes 10 positive words to replace one negative word you have spoken.

~Listen more and talk less. Think before you speak. Just STOP!

Slow down.

Think before you speak.

Obey God and His Word.

Pray.

~Witness with your words. Think about the witness for Christ you are to those around you. If you are speaking negative words to or about someone else, then you are not being a Christ-like example. You can quote scripture and tell people you go to church, but it is by your words that you show you are a Christian. If you speak no differently than the non-Christian, then how will they see the light of Christ in your life and want to have a personal relationship with Him. Deepen your walk with the Lord and speak words of life to others around you. Only then can you be Christ-like and show others what it really means to be a Christian. Your words are a sign of your spiritual maturity.

~Seek accountability/feedback: Share your speech problems with a trusted friend. Ask her to be your accountability partner to give you honest, loving feedback or constructive criticism on how you use your words. You may not even be aware of negative speech. Ask her to catch you as you start to use critical speech. Have grace for her and don’t be defensive. WARNING! This part can hurt your feelings, but it is really rewarding when your partner notices changes and compliments you.

~Worship/spend time with God. Jill Briscoe says,“If my words have not first worshiped, they will never win the race to the hearts of worldly men; they will never do anything in anybody’s life. I have to go into the temple the holy of holies and spend time with the Lord by sitting at His feet. Then, I can come out with words, with something to say that will make a difference.”

Spend time with God and be in His Word so that you are filling your life with God. By truly worshipping, you will be filled with the Holy Spirit and be like Elizabeth when she blessed Mary. You will be able to speak words of blessing into someone’s life.

~Transform your speech. Above all, stay plugged into God through all of these strategies. Consistently read the bible, pray and worship. You may have noticed our wonderful graphic that Emma Fivecoat made for our Day of Faith event. It is an electrical transformer. Just as electrical wires are plugged into the transformer and provide electricity for a neighborhood, so we are plugged into the power source of Christ. Through that power, He can transform our speech into God’s speech and help us be a light to a dark world. Let God transform your words from words of ashes into words of beauty, from words of death to words that Speak Life. Ask and allow God to transform your speech into speech that is truly “pleasing in His sight.” If you allow God to transform your words, then you can also transform the lives of other people around you by speaking life into the dark places of their lives, heal the hurt in their hearts and truly point them to Christ.

In Jesus' name I bind my mind to the mind of Christ that I may take every thought captive, be transformed by the renewing of my mind, and have Christ-like thoughts. I bind my heart to the heart of Christ and allow God to create in me a clean heart and renew a right spirit in me. I bind my mouth to the Word of God so that my words would be Christ-like and acceptable unto the Lord. I repent of having negative thoughts and feelings and ask you to forgive me. I loose family patterns/generational bondage that repeat themselves in my life. I loose the sin of unforgiveness and ask that you forgive me for my sins and help me to forgive those who have hurt me or those I love. I loose the sins of pride, selfishness, retribution, anger, need for control, fear, worry and jealousy. I bind and loose all these things because Christ has given me authority to do so. I pray that I would speak blessings into other people’s lives by sowing seeds of love, joy, peace, truth and encouragement into their lives. Amen.

Speak Life Sayings:

POWER OF THE WORDS FOR GOOD/EVIL

A careless word may kindle strife. A cruel word may wreck a life. A bitter word may hate instill . a brutal word may smite and kill. A gracious word may smooth the way. A joyous word may light the day. A timely word may lessen stress. A loving word may heal and bless. Author unknown.

The tongue of a woman is her sword and affective speech stronger than all fighting. Author Unknown

A blow with a word strikes deeper than a blow with a sword. Robert Burton

Words so powerless as they are, as standing in a dictionary, how potent for good and evil they become, in the hands of the one who knows how to combine them! Nathaniel Hawthorne GOSSIP

A woman never discloses her character so clearly as when she describes another’s. Jean Paul Richter

A word is dead when it is said, but I say it just begins to live that day. Emily Dickenson

I would rather play with forked lightening, or take in my hand living wires with their fiery current, than speak a reckless word against any servant of Christ or idly repeat the slanderous darts which thousands of Christians are hurling on others, to the hurt of their own souls and bodies. A. B. Simpson

The reason a dog has so many friends is because he wags his tail instead of his tongue. Author Unknown

Lord make my words gracious and tender for tomorrow I may have to eat them! Author Unknown

So live that you wouldn’t be ashamed to sell the family parrot to the town gossip. Will Rogers

CRITICAL WORDS

The Tongue has no bones but it is strong enough to break hearts. Mind your words. Speak life- Toby Mac

Sticks and stones will break our bones, but words will break our hearts. Robert Fulghum

A sharp tongue is the only edge tool that grows keener with constant use. Washington Irving

JUST BE QUIET!

I closed mouth gathers no foot. Author Unknown

God gave us teeth to hold back our tongue. Old Greek Proverb

Blessed is the man/woman who having nothing to say, abstains from giving us wordy evidence of that fact. George Eliot

I seldom feel sorry for things I did not say. Author Unknown

Men should utter nothing for which they would not willingly be responsible through time and eternity. Abraham Lincoln

WATCH YOUR THOUGHTS

Watch your thoughts for they become words. Watch your words for they become actions. Watch your actions for they become habits. Watch your habits for they become character. Watch your character for it becomes your destiny. (Author Unknown)

Think all you speak, but speak not all you think. Patrick Delaney

The mind of a man is the battleground on which every moral and spiritual battle is fought. Oswald Sanders

Every thought is a seed. If you plant crab apples, don’t count on harvesting Golden Delicious. Author Unknown

Giving our thoughts time to settle and soak in scripture is a wonderful habit. It can keep us from answering too soon and looking foolish. Karen Ehman

The bible has a lot to say about our mouths, our lips, our tongues, for our speech betrays us. What is down in the well will come up in the bucket. Vance Hayner

I cup full of sweet water cannot spill even one drop of bitter water however suddenly jolted. Amy Carmichael

COMMIT TO REPENT AND CHANGE YOUR WORDS

Man is born with his back toward God. When he truly repents, he turns right around and faces God. Repentance is a change of mind…. Repentance is the tear in the eye of faith. D .L .Moody

BLESS/ENCOURAGE OTHERS WITH WORDS

There is no more noble occupation in the world than to assist another human being to succeed. Alan Loy McGinnnis

How many people stop because too few say go. Chuck Swindoll

I have yet to find the man however exalted his station, who did not do better work and put forth greater effort under a spirit of approval than under a spirit of criticism. Charles Schwab

Encouragement is oxygen to the soul. George Matthew Adams

Learn to greet your friends with a smile. They carry too may frowns in their own hearts to be bothered by yours. Mary Allette Ayer

A friend is someone who understands your past, believes in your future and accepts you just the way you are. Author Unknown

Let the wife make the husband glad to come home and let him make her sorry to see him leave. Martin Luther

BLESS/ENCOURAGE YOUR CHILDREN WITH WORDS

Love your children with all your heart… Praise them for the important things… Praise them a lot. They live on it like bread and butter. Lavina Christensen Fugal, 1995 Mother of the year

There are many ways to measure success not the least of which is way your child describes you when talking to a friend. Author Unknown.

Affirming words from moms and dads are like light switches. Speak a word of affirmation at the right moment in a child’s life, and it lightens up a whole roomful of possibilities. Gary Smalley and John Trent

SPEAK LIFE- GOD WORDS

True prayer is when God’s heart is expressed through words. Jennifer Kennedy Dean

The world at its worst needs the church at its best. Author Unknown

Speak Life Scriptures

Slander

Leviticus 19:16 Do not go about spreading slander among your people

Proverbs 10:18 Whoever spreads slander is a fool

Titus 3:2 They must not slander anyone and must avoid quarreling. Instead they should be gentle and show true humility to everyone.

Gossip:

Proverbs 11:13 A gossip betrays a confidence, but a trustworthy man keeps a secret.

Proverbs 12:19 Truthful words stand the test of time, but lies are soon exposed.

Proverbs 6:16-19 There are six things that the Lord hates, no seven that he detest: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands kill the innocent, a heart that plots evil, feet that race to do wrong, a false witness who pours out lies, and one who sows discord in a family.

Flattering:

Psalms 12:3 The Lord shall cut off all flattering lips

Job 32:21-22 I won’t play favorites or try to flatter anyone. For if I tried flattery my Creator would soon destroy me.

Proverbs 17: 14 The start of a quarrel is like a leak in a dam so stop it before it burst.

Proverbs 29:11 Fools vent their anger, but he wise quietly hold back.

Critical thoughts:

Romans 12:1-3 I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. Top of Form

Create in me a clean heart:

Proverbs 10:20 The tongue of the righteous is choice silver, but the heart of the wicked is of little value.

Proverbs 4:23 Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.

Matthew 12:33-37 “Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or make the tree bad and its fruit bad, for the tree is known by its fruit….. For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks….. I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak, for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”

Psalms 141:3 Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips

Psalms 39:1 A Psalm of David. I said, “I will guard my ways, that I may not sin with my tongue; I will guard my mouth with a muzzle, so long as the wicked are in my presence”.

Proverbs 21:23 Watch your words and hold your tongue and you will save yourself a lot of grief.

Proverbs 13:3 Whoever guards his mouth preserves his life; he who opens wide his lips comes to ruin.

James 1:26 If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person's religion is worthless.

James 3:2-6 If anyone can control his tongue it proves he has perfect control over himself in every other way. We can make a large horse go wherever we want by means of a small bit in its mouth. And a small rudder makes a huge ship turn wherever the pilot chooses to go. So also the tongue is a small thing that makes grand speeches. But a tiny spark can set a great forest on fire.

James 3:7-8 For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by mankind, but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.

James 3:10 From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so.

Psalms 71:8 Let my mouth be filled with thy praise and with honor all the day

Proverbs 10:21 The words of the godly encourage many

Proverbs 15:23 A man finds joy in giving an apt reply and how good is a timely word!

Proverbs 16:24 From a wise man comes wise speech; the words of the wise are persuasive

Proverbs 25:11 Like apples of gold in a silver basket is a word spoken in the right circumstance

Proverbs 31:26 When she speaks, her words are wise, and she gives instructions in kindness

Isaiah 50: 4 The Lord has given me an instructed tongue to know the word that sustains the weary.

Proverbs 16:24 Kind words are like honey-sweet to the soul and healthy for the body.

Colossians 4:6 Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.

Proverbs 8: 6-8 Listen for I have worthy things to say. I open my lips to speak what is right. My mouth speaks what is true for my lips detest wickedness. All my words are just; none of them is crooked or perverse

Matthew 5:9 Blessed are the peacemakers for they will be called the Sons of God

Isaiah 51:16 I have put my words in your mouth and covered you with the shadow of my hand

Isaiah 59:21 “My spirit who is on you will not depart from you, and my words that I have put in your mouth will always be on your lips and the lips of your children and the lips of their descendants from this time on and forever “ says the LordTop of Form

Speak Life 31 Day Challenge:

Each day, write down the positive words of encouargment you said to others; the negative/critical words you sadi to others; and the steps you want to take to change your words.